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India’s eCommerce sector is estimated to reach $99 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 27%. Experts believe that by 2034, the industry will surpass the US to become the second-largest eCommerce market globally. Though currently, the sector is still developing technologically, the competition is extremely fierce. This blog will help you understand 12 mistakes you must avoid as an eCommerce seller to stay ahead of the race and reap the maximum benefits of the rapidly expanding Indian eCommerce market.
1. Identifying Your Target Audience
Many eCommerce sellers ignore the importance of identifying their target audience and spend significant time figuring out the criteria that appeal to their customers.
What Can You Do?
Conduct in-depth market research to understand the customer segments that need your product, decide on the language you can effectively communicate with them, devise a marketing strategy to focus them.
Know everything about your customers, including their pain areas, solutions they tried in the past, cherished values, and how your products can solve their problems.
2. Selecting the Wrong eCommerce Platform
A wrong eCommerce platform can be a costly mistake that can reduce traffic, fewer conversions, lower revenue, security issues, and more.
What Can You Do?
Give proper thought before selecting the right eCommerce platform and consider the following factors before finalizing one.
Products you wish to offer.
Your strategy for business scaling.
Your budget.
Tools you intend to integrate with the platform.
Your preferred amount of control on your website
Your preference for template design Vs. Custom design.
The type of consumer experience you want to provide
3. Not Using Scalable Design for the Website
Studies suggest that 88% of Indian customers use cell phones for purchase, and by not making your website ready for such market evolutions, you may lose out on significant business opportunities.
What Can You Do?
Go for a responsive website.
Check with your eCommerce platform representative/ web developer to have a website design that evolves with your business growth.
4. Complex Website Navigation
Unattractive or non-intuitive website design will deter your potential consumers from staying on your website, resulting in revenue loss and future opportunities.
What Can You Do?
Work with your UX expert to offer easy and quick navigation and an enjoyable consumer experience.
Minimize the number of clicks needed to search for a product.
Use analytics to optimize the design by finding out where your buyers are dropping off.
5. Cumbersome Checkout Process
A complicated checkout process can be overwhelming for your potential customer, leading to shopping cart abandonment, a nagging problem in the eCommerce sector.
What Can You Do?
Keep a simple checkout process that does not need the customers to register before paying.
Offer multiple checkout and payment options.
Display duty and shipping costs.
6. Content Is Not SEO-Friendly
In the present internet-era, where content is the king, you restrict your website’s visibility in search engine results and limit your products’ reach to your potential customers by not using SEO-friendly content.
What Can You Do?
Implement an effective SEO strategy to create unique and SEO-friendly content, fix broken links, and conduct site audit for other potential problem identification.
7. Substandard Customer Service
Poor customer service can result in rapid customer attrition and difficulty in acquiring new customers. For a successful eCommerce business, efficient customer service is as important as offering a quality product.
What Can You Do?
Build and follow omnichannel communication strategy (email, chat, call) with your customers.
Review and respond to social media posts, reviews, and queries regularly.
8. No Strong Brand Identity
Robust brand identity is a must to attract and retain customers over a long period and is vital for a successful business.
What Can You Do?
Based on the market research and perception of target customers, devise your branding, marketing, content, and communication strategy.
Devise a creative and memorable logo for your business
9. Redundant Product Descriptions
Uninformative product descriptions can be boring to the users, leaving them wondering how your products can add value for them, making your website just like any other mediocre website with average quality products.
What Can You Do?
Write informative and engaging product descriptions for every product page.
Mention size, material, and fit and explain how it can be used and write any good story associated with the product.
10. Inferior Quality Product Photos
Due to the absence of physical interaction, detailed product photos are crucial for your customers to ensure product quality. Poor quality photos can negatively impact your consumer’s ability to judge the product and, in turn, hamper your conversions.
What Can You Do?
Provide bright, detailed, attractive, and high-quality visuals of your products.
Provide photos showcasing different angles and views.
Provide good size photos with an ability to zoom-in for closer reviews.
11. Using Wrong Packaging
Using inappropriately sized boxes or skipping protection like bubble wrap for saving shipping costs can not only damage the products but also tarnish your brand reputation and customer experience, hampering repeat business and revenue.
What Can You Do?
Use appropriate box size with adequate packaging. A reasonable estimate is to leave 2 inches of spacing around items.
Use appropriate protection for delicate products.
Use easy-to-open packaging.
12. Low Website Security
Trust is an integral factor while doing online shopping. If your website is not secure, customers won’t feel safe using it for purchasing products with a fear of a leak of their financial and personal information.
What Can You Do?
Strengthen your website security using encryption such as SSL
Display trust badges from various payment gateways like PayPal, Visa, and more.
Do not use standard FTP to transfer files.
Employ cybersecurity personnel.
With a mission to enable eCommerce brands to achieve their true potential, Powerhouse91 is committed to helping eCommerce businesses efficiently serve their customers. We are a team of experts with 10+ years of experience in eCommerce and can help you build your eCommerce brand and guide you in your growth journey.
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